AD sticks up for Gozitan police

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said a substantial number of Gozitan police stationed in Malta could easily be stationed in Gozo.

Except for the police stations at Victoria and Mgarr, he said, the 15 other stations were practically always closed.

He noted that some of the police working in Malta had been stationed here for more than 12 years. A number of them were also facing family difficulties as a result.

The timing of their shifts was such that they were constrained to sleep in Malta, since it made no sense that in the few hours between one shift and another they made the long trip to Gozo.

Also, due to the fact that they did not know where they would be on duty before five in the evening, they were constrained to come to Malta with their private car, Dr Vassallo said.

The expenses of accommodation in Malta and frequent use of their own car were leading to unnecessary financial burdens that could have been lightened with some reasonable and sensitive planning.